CLIPBOARD : Home Permit Values

The value of home-building permits issued in January marked a five-year monthly low, corresponding to a decline in the number of permits issued for new building. These permit valuations include additions and alterations to existing homes. The $40.9 million for January continued a trend in which the total has dropped for each of the last four months.

The previous low, $50.1 million, took place in December, 1990. The January mark was 18% thinner.

Irvine, Yorba Linda and La Palma all had dips near 100% in the value of permits issued for home building, leading the 18 cities (and unincorporated areas) that had totals lower than those recorded the previous January. However, nine cities had larger totals contrasted with the previous year--some of them spectacularly so. For example, the Villa Park total jumped nearly 1,000%, while both Stanton and Mission Viejo increased almost 500%.

Here's how the cities stack up, listed from the largest decrease to the largest increase in permits issued: